Immediately After Surgery: 

When you get up from the laser your refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism) is gone.  When you look down the hall you will be able to see this.  However your eye has been held open for approximately eight minutes and is dried out.  It does not feel dry because of the numbing with the eye drops.  You will have vision as if you are looking through a dirty contact lens.  It takes about nine hours for the vision to be pretty good.  If the laser is performed in the morning, vision is usually quite good by dinner.  Almost everyone is able to drive into the office the next day without glasses.

After approximately thirty minutes the anesthetic wears off.  For a few hours it is common to feel a foreign body sensation, tearing or light sensitivity.  These pass as the epithelium heals at the edge of the flap.  You will wear a clear plastic shield over your eyes for the first 24 hours after surgery and for three night times after the first day.  This is to keep you from inadvertently rubbing your eyes before you remember that you had surgery. 

 First Day After Surgery: 

You will see Dr. Sullivan one day after surgery.  Most patients are happy with their vision on the first day however it may occasionally be blurry due to swelling or surface dryness. 

 The Following Days: 

Expect your vision to fluctuate during the first week following surgery.  This is usually due to dryness and may require increased use of artificial tears.

 General Cleanliness: 

Avoid makeup for two weeks after surgery if you would have to rub your eye to remove it.  You may shower and wash your hair as long as you do not rub your eye while drying your face.

 Physical Activity: 

You may resume your normal activity the day after surgery.  The vast majority of patients return to work the day after surgery.  It is recommended that you wear protective eyewear while playing contact or racquet sports.  Avoid swimming, hot tubs, saunas or any other contact with water that may be contaminated, for two weeks following surgery.  The most important precaution after Lasik is that you do not rub your eye for two weeks following surgery.  If you rub your eye you may move the corneal flap.  The flap would then need to be repositioned and the healing process would start over.  It is best to avoid rubbing the eye. 

 Eye Drops: 

You will be using two eye drops for the first five days after surgery; an antibiotic to prevent infection and a mild cortisone drop.  Each drop is used four times per day.  Wash your hands before instilling the drops. Do not touch the dropper to your eye. Many people have a feeling of dryness for the first month after laser eye surgery.  We commonly give patients artificial tears to be used during this period.